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Prescription of drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system in Italian children

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Abstract

Little is known about the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs for children with impaired kidney function. We have therefore documented the use of antihypertensive drugs in this patient group by evaluating the Italian pediatric population-based registry of patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment (ItalKid) from 1995 to 2003. In 1995, prescriptions written for antihypertensive drugs for use by children were approximately equally divided among drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system and calcium channel blockers (38 vs. 43% of all prescriptions), followed by β-blockers and diuretics (15 and 4%, respectively). During subsequent years the proportion of prescriptions for drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system increased (2003: 61%; p<0.001) and that of calcium channel blockers decreased (2003: 18%, p<0.001). In 1995, blockers of the renin-angiotensin system were prescribed, either as monotherapy or in combination, in 53% of the patients, but the relative frequency of the patients prescribed these drugs increased up to 83% in 2003 (p<0.0005). In conclusion, physicians caring for Italian children with impaired kidney function are increasingly prescribing drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system.

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Acknowledgements

The ItalKid Project is supported by a research grant from the “Associazione per il Bambino Nefropatico”. The present paper was written on behalf of all the members of the ItalKid Project whose contribution was essential.

G. Airoldi (Borgomanero), G. Amici (Ancona), A. Ammenti (Parma), B. Andretta (Padova), G. Ardissino (Milano), F. Ardito (Bologna), B. M. Assael (Verona), L. Avolio (Pavia), S. Bassi (Montichiari), F. Battaglino (Vicenza), R. Bellantuono (Bari), A. Bettinelli (Merate), C. Bigi (Lecco), S. Binda (Varese), D. Bissi (Gallarate), R. Boero (Torino), L. Bonaudo (Torino), M. Borzani (Milano), M. Bosio (Magenta), A.M. Bottelli (Varese), G. Bovio (Pavia), A.M. Bracone (Bra), G. Capasso (Napoli), M. Capizzi (Milano), D.A. Caringella (Bari), M.R. Caruso (Bergamo), D. Cattarelli (Brescia), M. Cecconi (Ancona), A. Ciofani (Pescara), A. Claris-Appiani (Milano), R. Coppo (Torino), R. Costanzo (Ragusa), P. Cussino (Savigliano), V. Daccò (Milano), M. D’Agostino (Bergamo), G. Daidone (Siracusa), R. Dall’Amico (Thiene), L. Dardanelli (Cuneo), R. De Castro (Bologna), M. De Gennaro (Roma), S. De Pascale (Bergamo), N. De Santo (Napoli), D. Delfino (R. Calabria), C.A. Dell’Agnola (Milano), L. Dello Strologo (Roma), F. Di Lorenzo (Bologna), P. Di Turi (Bologna), A. Edefonti (Milano), W. Erckert (Silandro), A. Fabris (Verona), V. Fanos (Verona), C. Fede (Messina), A. Fella (Napoli), R. Ferré (Breno), A. Ferretti (Napoli), P.A. Formentin (Cittadella), C. Fortini (Ferrara), E. Fossali (Milano), M. Gaido (Torino), L. Ghio (Milano), F. Giachino (Ivrea), M. Giani (Milano), S. Gianni (Siracusa), B. Gianoglio (Torino), P. Gianoli (Rivoli), M. Giordano (Bari), V. Goj (Milano), F. Grancini (Milano), G. Grott (Chieri), S. Guez (Milano), R. Gusmano (Genova), A. Iovino (Napoli), C. Isimbaldi (Lecco), A. La Manna (Napoli), G. Lama (Napoli), R. Landoni (Cinisello B.), S. Li Volti (Catania), A. Liardo (Caltagirone), V. Lotti (Cesena), R. Lubrano (Roma), N. Manganaro (Messina), M. Marangella (Torino), C. Marchesoni (Trento), S. Maringhini (Palermo), G. Marra (Milano), E. Marras (Torino), V. A. Mei (Bologna), N. Miglietti (Brescia), R. Mignani (Rimini), P. Minelli (Bologna), P.P. Molinari (Bologna), G. Montini (Padova), M. Montis (Cagliari), L. Murer (Padova), G. Nebbia (Milano), M. Neunhauserer (Brunico), M. Noto (Palermo), F. Paolillo (Lodi), T. Papalia (Cosenza), R. Parini (Milano), A. Passione (Foggia), L. Pavanello (Castelfranco V.), C. Pecoraro (Napoli), M.E. Pedron (Bolzano), I. Pela (Firenze), A. Pellegatta (Busto A.), P.N. Pelliccia (Chieti), M. Pennesi (Trieste), C. Pennetta (Manduria), R. Penza (Bari), L. Peratoner (Pordenone), F. Perfumo (Genova), G. Perino (Torino), C. Pesce (Vicenza), L. Pisanello (Padova), M. Pitter (Mirano), M.G. Porcellini (Torino), R. Prandini (Bologna), F. Puteo (Bari), I. Ratsch (Ancona), G. Riccipetitoni (Cosenza), G. Ripanti (Pesaro), N. Roberto (Milano), A. Rosini (Ancona), M. Rossi Doria (Bologna), S. Rota (Bergamo), M.L. Ruzza (Milano), D. Scorrano (Belluno), A. Selicorni (Milano), G. Selvaggio (Milano), F. Sereni (Milano), O. Sernia (Savigliano), C. Setzu (Cagliari), M. Tagliaferri (Treviglio), A. Turrisi (Trapani), S. Viola (Genova), G. Visconti (Palermo), A. Voghenzi (Ferrara), G. Zacchello (Padova).

Scientific Committee: Gianluigi Ardissino, Luigi Avolio, Antonio Ciofani, Aldo Claris-Appiani, Luca Dello Strologo, Giovanni Montini, Emanuela Taioli, Enrico Verrina.

Executive Board: Gianluigi Ardissino, Valeria Daccò, Antonio Leoni, Silvana Loi, Sara Testa, Sara Viganò.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servizio Integrato di Pediatria, Ospedali di Bellinzona e Mendrisio, Svizzera, Milan, Italy

    Mario G. Bianchetti

  2. Servizio di Pediatria, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy

    Anita Ammenti

  3. Servizio di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy

    Luigi Avolio

  4. Struttura Complessa di Pediatria, Ospedale San Leopoldo Mandic, Merate, Italy

    Alberto Bettinelli

  5. Nefrologia Pediatrica, Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Milan, Italy

    Maurizio Bosio

  6. Pediatria Emergenza Urgenza, Fondazione Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Emilio Fossali

  7. Clinica Pediatrica, Seconda Università, Naples, Italy

    Angela La Manna

  8. Servizio di Nefrologia Pediatrica, Ospedale Di Cristina, Palermo, Italy

    Silvio Maringhini

  9. Servizio di Nefrologia Pediatrica, Clinica Meyer, Florence, Italy

    Ivana Pela

  10. Clinica Pediatrica, Università, Ancona, Italy

    Ilse M. Ratsch

  11. Unità Operativa di Nefrologia Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Sara Viganò

  12. Unità Operativa di Nefrologia Pediatrica, Fondazione Policlinico, Milan, Italy

    Gianluigi Ardissino

  13. Department of Pediatrics, San Giovanni Hospital, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    Mario G. Bianchetti

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  1. Mario G. Bianchetti
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  2. Anita Ammenti
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  12. Gianluigi Ardissino
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Italkid Project

CHIld Project

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mario G. Bianchetti.

Additional information

This research was carried out within the framework of the ItalKid Project and the CHIld Project.

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Bianchetti, M.G., Ammenti, A., Avolio, L. et al. Prescription of drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system in Italian children. Pediatr Nephrol 22, 144–148 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0293-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-006-0293-1

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